A　modulus-based　nonmonotone　line　search　method　is　proposed　for　nonlinear　complementarity　problem.　The　considered　problem　is　first　reformulated　to　a　nonsmooth　nonlinear　system　based　on　the　modulus-based　decomposition.　Then　a　nonmonotone　line　search　method　using　simulated　annealing　rule　is　generalized　to　solve　the　resulting　system.　The　global　convergence　of　the　proposed　method　is　established　under　some　suitable　assumptions.　Preliminary　numerical　experiments　show　that,　compared　with　some　existing　methods,　the　proposed　method　is　feasible　and　effective.　©　2020　Elsevier　Inc.